Thinking about starting a small computer business

[JoeFahey]

I'm still a teenager, but I have a great interest in computers. I am also very self-motivated, and willing to work hard. I would like to own my own business someday. Now though, I think I could start just a small little business out of my house. My town is full of kids and adults who know very little about computers. I could repair their computers, and sell some too. However, I have a few questions. I have heard about something called a "re-seller licence". Is there such a thing? Because I would be buying parts to build computers, and selling the computers as a whole, to individuals in my community. Is this legal? Also, what about wholesale? How would I purchase parts at wholesale prices, and sell at a slightly larger price as a computer to gain a profit? I know am fairly ignorant as to the many rules and regulations of running a business, but I would like to learn.
THANKS!

 

[RU482]

you and every other person on this board, at some point

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: redly1
you and every other person on this board, at some point

lol, though back in some of our days it wasn't too bad yet.

 

[Injury]

Fixing your friends and relatives computers is not a business.

Let me go through and give you your first couple of speedbumps.

- You will need money to advertise. Word of mouth is great, but doesn't travel very fast. You get a response to advertising with what you put in to it. $100 worth of flyers and distributing them door to door might get you a couple of customers but really won't be worth the cost or time of doing it.

- You aren't the only on in town who has thought of this. Trust me. Some other kid down the street is probably fixing his friends and family's computers for free already. Why would someone pay you?

- You are a teenager. People will be hard up to put trust in you.

- You will need money to buy parts before you can get paid for reselling them and installing them. Think about the term "reseller". You buy it... then you RE-SELL it. Most places are going to laugh in your face or not give you a very good bulk buy discount if your expected business is a couple hundred in sales a month, at best.

 

[Goosemaster]

All I can say is be prepared to work your ass off with not much of a guarrentee of immediate or even eventual and continued success....

it's a rough arena out there for that with so many corporate and small time players in the game....if you don't bring something enticing and unique to the table (frankly most of the ideas have been gobbled up already) be prepared for hell...

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: redly1
you and every other person on this board, at some point

lol, though back in some of our days it wasn't too bad yet.

Even still it can be a way to make a few bucks, but it's not a "buisness".

 

[Fritzo]

Yeah, computer businesses SUCK if you're doing it on your own. PC fixers are like lawyers...there's WAY too many of them.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: redly1
you and every other person on this board, at some point

lol, though back in some of our days it wasn't too bad yet.

Even still it can be a way to make a few bucks, but it's not a "buisness".

"sustainable business that you can live off of"

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Yeah, computer businesses SUCK if you're doing it on your own. PC fixers are like lawyers...there's WAY too many of them.

and all the clients think you are scamming them.....a royal PITA.....


hoenstly, having changed gears and moved into a compeltely different field ( I am still in college though) I find it refreshign comapred to al lthe flack I faced day after day in the PC/IT field...

you get no respect frankly...

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Yeah, computer businesses SUCK if you're doing it on your own. PC fixers are like lawyers...there's WAY too many of them.

and all the clients think you are scamming them.....a royal PITA.....


hoenstly, having changed gears and moved into a compeltely different field ( I am still in college though) I find it refreshign comapred to al lthe flack I faced day after day in the PC/IT field...

you get no respect frankly...

Their are ways to stay sane. First, don't go advertising willy-nilly. Select your customer base. Second, try not to give a sh!t what they think about you. Don't be hung up on repeate buisness, frequently it sucks. Further, make sure you have clear policies, and stick to them. And always try to find an underserved area.

 

[conehead433]

Short and simple - Forget It!

 

[JoeFahey]

I've also thought of doing what I have helped a few of my friends with. Switching out their old boring beige or black Dell cases with a colorfull, good looking cases of their choice. I swear people are turned on to computers much more just by the looks of the case. So I thought of just making a little cash with buying cool cases that the individual would like, and switching it with their old one. Why not?!

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
I've also thought of doing what I have helped a few of my friends with. Switching out their old boring beige or black Dell cases with a colorfull, good looking cases of their choice. I swear people are turned on to computers much more just by the looks of the case. So I thought of just making a little cash with buying cool cases that the individual would like, and switching it with their old one. Why not?!

Firstly, this is not really a buisness. Secondly, working for your friends is a BAD IDEA.

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
I've also thought of doing what I have helped a few of my friends with. Switching out their old boring beige or black Dell cases with a colorfull, good looking cases of their choice. I swear people are turned on to computers much more just by the looks of the case. So I thought of just making a little cash with buying cool cases that the individual would like, and switching it with their old one. Why not?!

Firstly, this is not really a buisness. Secondly, working for your friends is a BAD IDEA.

Well, no, not just for my friends. But I could offer my services to purchase, and install new cases that individuals would like to have.

 

[Zugzwang152]

How about you help people buy a Dell and charge them a service fee. No overhead, pure profit.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Oh yeah, and then sell them an extended warranty.

 

[platinumike]

I did the same thing after HS, I live in a pretty big town. I got my business license, wholesale certificate,website,etc. bought a few things and tried selling them online. Made a few bucks. Its damn near pointless trying to do business online considering you could buy from zzf or newegg cheaper than the wholesaler could net you. After a year or so I said wtf am i doing, Iam 18 years old, and I dropped the business and enrolled in college.

 

[episodic]

Been doing it for year. The market is dying. I'm getting out now.

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: Injury
Fixing your friends and relatives computers is not a business.

Let me go through and give you your first couple of speedbumps.

- You will need money to advertise. Word of mouth is great, but doesn't travel very fast. You get a response to advertising with what you put in to it. $100 worth of flyers and distributing them door to door might get you a couple of customers but really won't be worth the cost or time of doing it.

- You aren't the only on in town who has thought of this. Trust me. Some other kid down the street is probably fixing his friends and family's computers for free already. Why would someone pay you?

- You are a teenager. People will be hard up to put trust in you.

- You will need money to buy parts before you can get paid for reselling them and installing them. Think about the term "reseller". You buy it... then you RE-SELL it. Most places are going to laugh in your face or not give you a very good bulk buy discount if your expected business is a couple hundred in sales a month, at best.

I agree for the most part, but let me go step-by-step with my advice.

- Just put up some fliers, that sort of thing, with your phone number. Do them in photoshop, so they don't look stupid, and then print them out and stick them in high-profile locations. Don't spend too much cash, just 5-15 bucks. If you fail... meh, not that much loss.

- Again, true. Use your parents and their friends to help you get customers.

- 100% True, which means you need to be even more courteous.

- Don't do reselling first. Just do tech-support, and if they need a new part, tell them you'll get them a new X for Y dollars, and you'll bill it to them.

 

[fitzov]

This question must get asked at least once a week.

 

[ponyo]

You're guys are not looking at the right market.

I've great computer/networking business idea, but I need someone who knows about servers, networking, backups, phone systems, etc.

 

[Trikat]

I haven't seen a modern computer repair place that was pretty successful, because the Geek Squad and other major stores always takes over the repairs. Or the people go back to the manufacture even if it costs them a bit of money.
Tough luck.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Naustica
You're guys are not looking at the right market.

I've great computer/networking business idea, but I need someone who knows about servers, networking, backups, phone systems, etc.

That is getting into the arena of professional consultants.....if you don;t knwo the tech, don't even bother starting anything like that because if something goes wrong and they don;t know how to fix it, you sure as hell won;t either....

 

[VeganThug]

the people that say don't try are probably the ones that tried and failed. their failures were likely due to their own incompetence. people that are incompetent blame the market or the industry or anything that doesn't have to do with them. all over america, there is strong demand for competent, honest individuals who repair/upgrade computers (the same can be true for automobiles). if you do it on your own, expect to lose money in the beginning. the strength that you have is the ability to give individualized attention.

the real question is why do you want to start your own business now? i'm 28 years old, have a degree in computer information systems within a business school, and it will still be challenging for me to get my computer building business off the ground. from your questions it sounds like you know very little about such things. i recommend finding someone who already has a business. consider interning with someone for free. if you work for free, make sure that your employer is actually successful and competent. also, try to find someone with teacher-like qualities whose brain you can pick. working for free for a year might seem like a waste of time, but if you do it right, you should gain valuable experience for when you start your business or if you decide to be a cog making drone like everyone else.

nc

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
I'm still a teenager, but I have a great interest in computers. I am also very self-motivated, and willing to work hard. I would like to own my own business someday. Now though, I think I could start just a small little business out of my house. My town is full of kids and adults who know very little about computers. I could repair their computers, and sell some too. However, I have a few questions. I have heard about something called a "re-seller licence". Is there such a thing? Because I would be buying parts to build computers, and selling the computers as a whole, to individuals in my community. Is this legal? Also, what about wholesale? How would I purchase parts at wholesale prices, and sell at a slightly larger price as a computer to gain a profit? I know am fairly ignorant as to the many rules and regulations of running a business, but I would like to learn.
THANKS!

Suggest you work for someone in the business for a few years at least. Take business oriented classes at college, then come talk to us. As it is now, you would be committing suicide by trying to start your own business and expect it to be succesful at the same time.